Have you always dreamt of becoming the next Jacques Cousteau? Are you fascinated by the deep oceans, a world more unknown to us than the galaxy? Or do you want to know more about life in and on the mud of the coastal tidal flats? NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research offers an introductory, multidisciplinary oceanography masters’ summer course which gives insight into state-of-the-art marine research in the Netherlands. The course covers physics, chemistry, biology, geology as the pillars of oceanography, and offers practical experience in marine research. It is hosted at NIOZ Texel and uses the western Wadden Sea as hands-on research area.

Learning objectives of the course are to:

• identify current topics in the marine sciences, ranging from marine biology, physical oceanography and marine chemistry to marine geology;
• identify and describe methods of sampling and observation commonly used in oceanography, including techniques and instruments used on research vessels;
• conduct a group-based research project using basic sampling techniques to collect data in the field, perform laboratory analyses, analyse and interpret obtained data and prepare a presentation of the results;
• present and discuss research results in a multidisciplinary framework.

Course content
The course includes a pre-course reading assignment, classroom lectures, field- and lab work, data analysis and an oral presentation. First, a series of introductory lectures on physical oceanography, marine chemistry, marine geology and marine ecology will be given, later followed by presentations on selected topics representing current research activities at NIOZ. Various equipment and methods of sampling and data collection in the field and in the NIOZ labs will be demonstrated. A major part of the course will be devoted to individual research projects, which will be supervised by researchers from NIOZ. Students will sample and collect data in small groups in the western Wadden Sea on the research vessels Navicula and Adriaen Coenen and/or on the tidal flats in the first week of the course. This will be followed by laboratory work, analysis and interpretation of acquired data and the preparation of a presentation in week two. The assessment will be based on demonstrated performance during practical work, data analysis and the oral presentation of the results at the end of the course. In order to get an idea of the kind of projects the course is offering, please have a look at the descriptions of the student projects of the 2019 course and the descriptions of the 2022 course. You can also read the student blogs (2017, 2018, 2019) or have a look at the Instagram Story of the 2022 course to find out about the students' experiences.  

Admission requirements
The course is open to students with a BSc degree in studies related to oceanography from Dutch as well as foreign universities. BSc students who have completed their Bachelor course work, but have not yet obtained their degree, can also apply. The course is limited to 33 students. Applications by students in their first or second year of their master studies will be given priority in case there will be more applications than spots on the course. Proficiency in English is required.

Credits
NIOZ will inform the student's university about their participation in the course as well as the student's grade. Participation is rewarded with 3 - 4 ECTS, depending on university (ECTS will be granted by the student's university).

Course enrolment
Registration for the 2023 course is closed. 

Course location, accommodation, meals and course fee
The course is held at NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research on Texel. Participants will be staying at the Potvis Campus, ‘t Horntje, Texel, in 4- or 5-person dormitory rooms or other similar accommodation close-by. A contribution of 430 EUR is charged for lodging and meals. For reasons of sustainability there will be vegan and vegetarian meals only. 

For inquiries about the scientific content of the course:
Prof. Dr. Gert-Jan Reichart
Dr. Henko de Stigter

For all other inquiries:
Dörte Poszig, education coordinator